Dr. Emmanuel Diop¹, Dr. Clara Mensah², Dr. Fatima Jalloh³, Dr. Isaac Owusu⁴
ABSTRACT:
Dental caries is a major public health issue affecting children and adolescents across West Africa, yet consistent epidemiological data are limited.Objective: This review synthesizes published research over the last decade on dental caries prevalence, severity, and related sociodemographic factors among individuals under 18 in West Africa.Methods: A structured review of literature from 2015 to 2024 was conducted across indexed databases, focusing on caries data expressed in dmft/DMFT and prevalence percentages. Studies with special populations or lacking methodological clarity were excluded.Findings: Out of 1288 records, 18 studies from only three countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal) met the inclusion criteria. Caries prevalence ranged from 3.4% to 96%, with the highest burden in urban Nigerian settings. Regional disparities were closely tied to health infrastructure, fluoridation, and socioeconomic indices.Conclusion: Oral health inequality is widespread in West Africa, and current surveillance is insufficient. Multinational public health interventions and targeted caries prevention programs are urgently needed.